I remember reading in an interview with you some time ago Aaron that you admire artists who “really know how to work a mood”. This is something I also admire in artists, and I happen to think you’re brilliant at it.

I’m however torn between wanting to like her, and wanting to be overprotective of Sera – especially since the name of this one is “Break Your Stupid Heart.” I’m violently yelling “Don’t you hurt her, you hussy!” in the back of my head.

I know just how you feel. Sera’s a big girl though (figuratively speaking) and this will be a valuable life lesson one way or another.

Reminds me a family I’m friends with. They’re part of a Native American dance group. Their adult daughter put a date with herself up for auction as part of a charity event, with her family’s blessing, naturally. It was an old fashioned, frontier style date, and her family chaperoned, naturally. Discretely of course, a brother or dad waiting at random points on the couple’s walk, smiling ever so politely while sharpening a knife or polishing a gun. Naturally.

I had an idea a little while ago. Maybe Maddy had a thing against witches because of the bus incident and the explosion + hand = eight fingers. Then she saw Sera fighting Stiletta and realized Sera’s life hasn’t been some ivory tower ideal, she’s been through a lot of crap, just like everyone else. And she missed her chance for really fun and interesting relationship with our little witch. So she’s here now trying to either see if things could work out between them or tie up loose ends, even if she slips into her old habit of witch bashing now and then.

And who’s ‘stupid heart’ is going to break? Sera? Maddy? Tess? Maybe Kelton, or maybe nobody, remember ‘So Long Crestfallen’ ended up about Sera *staying* in her home town.

You make a very interesting point. While she does seem to (understandably) harbor some lingering generalised animosity toward witches, she does seems to genuinely find Sera appealing. I think she may be trying to open herself up to possibilities. Getting to know Sera does seem to be shattering some long-held prejudices (“almost human”). Mustn’t let the title of the chapter sway our expectations too much.